Card reader for chip cards

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a card reader for chip cards which comprises a housing of the PCMCIA type. Said housing comprises a multi-contact strip ( 16 ) on the front end thereof, and has an insertion slot for the chip card on the rear end of the housing. Said insertion slot is formed between a base plate ( 14 ) and a cover plate ( 12 ) which is parallel thereto. The base plate ( 14 ) extends beyond the cover plate ( 12 ) at the rear end of the housing.

The invention relates to a card reader for chip cards, comprising astandardized housing in the PCMCIA format.

The housing of such a card reader has a multiple contact row at thefront end thereof and an insertion slot for the chip card at the rearend thereof, the insertion slot being formed between a base plate and acover plate which is parallel thereto. The chip cards, which arelikewise in a standardized format, have about the same width as thehousing in the PCMCIA format. The housing is therefore open at its longnarrow sides. Unless a guide sleeve is provided, as is described, forexample, in DE 43 10 517 A1, which protrudes out of the device in whichthe card reader is inserted, the base plate and the cover plate areconnected with each other only at the front end of the housing and cantherefore be easily bent out of shape. While the aforementioned guidesleeve avoids this problem, it is not in conformity with the PCMCIAformat because compared with this format the housing is longer. Anotherdisturbing point is that the guide sleeve projects out of the deviceinto which the housing of the card reader has been inserted.

Disclosed in FR-A-2 735 251 is a card reader for chip cards, comprisinga housing in the PCMCIA format which has a multiple contact row at thefront end thereof and an insertion slot for the chip card at the rearend thereof, the insertion slot being formed between a base plate and acover plate which is parallel thereto, the length of the base platecorresponding to that of the PCMCIA format.

The invention provides a card reader for chip cards which does notexceed the outer dimensions of the standardized PCMCIA format (withoutextension) and yet still has an increased mechanical stability.According to a first aspect of the invention the base plate protrudesbeyond the cover plate at the rear end of the housing. The length of thecover plate, which is reduced in comparison with that of the base plate,results in a smaller length of the effective lever in respect of theforces applied at the free end of the cover plate. According to a secondaspect of the invention the insertion slot has an end which is adjacentto the multiple contact row and is spaced approximately 15 to 30 mm fromthe front end of the housing. Thereby, a reduction in the length of theabove-mentioned effective lever is achieved. While the chip card in itsinserted condition will then project farther out of the housing of thecard reader, this is not disturbing; on the contrary, owing to the chipcard projecting, it is even easier to handle. In addition, due to theshortened cover plate insertion of the chip card is facilitated becausethe latter may be placed on the protruding edge of the base plate and isgiven a guidance there.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe following description and from the drawing to which reference ismade. The single figure of the drawing shows a perspective view of thecard reader in accordance with the invention.

In the figure only the housing of the card reader is shown, since solelythe housing is relevant to the invention.

The housing of the card reader 10 is comprised of a cover plate 12, abase plate 14 arranged parallel thereto at a small distance, a multiplecontact row 16 at the front end face of the housing and a pair of shortside walls 18 on the narrow sides of the housing adjacent to themultiple contact row 16. The narrow side walls 18 extend only as far asa line 20 indicated by dashes, which defines the depth of the insertionslot for the chip card. This insertion slot is formed between the coverplate 12 and the base plate 14.

The length L of the base plate corresponds to the correspondingdimension of the housing in the standardized PCMCIA format. The lengthof the cover plate 12, in contrast, is shorter by the difference D inmeasurement. The length of the effective lever for forces applied at thefree end of the cover plate 12 is designated by 1 in the FIGURE.Reducing this measurement 1 results in a substantial increase in themechanical stability of the housing at the rear end thereof. Thedifference D in measurement amounts to about 3 to 10 mm, and themeasurement L-1 amounts to about 15 to 30 mm. At the free rear edge ofthe cover plate 12 there is further provided an oblique surface whichwidens the insertion slot, thus assisting in the insertion of the chipcard.

What is claimed is:
 1. A chip card reader comprising: a housing, saidhousing comprising: a front end and a rear end, a pair of narrow sideedges extending between said front and rear ends, wherein length isdefined in a first direction between said front and rear ends, whereinwidth is defined in a second direction between said pair of narrow sideedges, wherein said front end comprises a multiple contact row, andwherein said front end has substantially similar width to said rear end;a base plate and a cover plate, wherein said base plate and said coverplate are parallel to each other; and an insertion slot, wherein saidinsertion slot is positioned between said base plate and said coverplate, wherein said base plate has a first length corresponding to thePCMCIA standard, wherein said base plate has a second length greaterthan said first length, and wherein said base plate protrudes beyondsaid cover plate at said rear end; wherein said housing has a generallyflat shape according to the PCMCIA standard.
 2. The chip card readeraccording to claim 1, wherein said first length exceeds said secondlength by about 3 mm to about 10 mm.
 3. The chip card reader accordingto claim 1, wherein said insertion slot extends from said rear end insaid first direction towards said front end, said insertion slotextending to a distance of about 15 mm to about 30 mm from said frontend.
 4. The chip card reader according to claim 3, further comprising afirst housing area, wherein said first housing area is defined by saidbase plate connecting to said cover plate at said side edges, said firsthousing area extending from said insertion slot to said front end. 5.The chip card reader according to claim 1, wherein said insertion slotis open at said side edges.
 6. The chip card reader according to claim1, wherein said cover plate at said rear end has an edge with an obliquesurface, said oblique surface widening said insertion slot.
 7. A chipcard reader comprising: a housing, said housing comprising: a front endand a rear end, a pair of narrow side edges extending between said frontand rear ends, wherein length is defined in a first direction betweensaid front and rear ends, wherein width is defined in a second directionbetween said pair of narrow side edges, wherein said front end comprisesa multiple contact row, and wherein said front end has substantiallysimilar width to said rear end; a base plate and a cover plate, whereinsaid base plate and said cover plate are parallel to each other; and aninsertion slot, wherein said insertion slot is positioned between saidbase plate and said cover plate, wherein said insertion slot extendsfrom said rear end in the first direction towards said front end, andwherein said insertion slot extends from said rear end in said firstdirection towards said front end, said insertion slot extending to adistance of about 15 mm to about 30 mm from said front end, wherein saidhousing has a generally flat shape according to the PCMCIA standard. 8.The chip card reader according to claim 7, further comprising a firsthousing area, wherein said first housing area is defined by said baseplate connecting to said cover plate at said side edges, said firsthousing area extending from said insertion slot to said front end. 9.The chip card reader according to claim 7, wherein said insertion slotis open at said side edges.
 10. The chip card reader according to claim7, wherein said base plate has a first length corresponding to thePCMCIA standard, wherein said base plate has a second length greaterthan said first length, and wherein said base plate protrudes beyondsaid cover plate at said rear end.
 11. The chip card reader according toclaim 10, wherein said first length exceeds said second length by about3 mm to about 10 mm.
 12. The chip card reader according to claim 7,wherein said cover plate at said rear end has an edge with an obliquesurface, said oblique surface widening said insertion slot.